While tributes were paid by the Northern Presbytery of our Church, and by our Synod, to the memory of our deceased brother in the ministry, the late Rev. Finlay MacLeod, it is fitting that notice of an obituary nature be prepared for publication in our monthly magazine. I regard others as more fit to undertake this than I, but as I was requested to do what in me lies in the matter, I ungrudgingly do what I can. I am much indebted to his son, Mr. D. B. MacLeod, for needed particulars, and to Mr. Arch. Robertson, Tain, for useful help and suggestions.
The late Rev. Finlay MacLeod was born in Kishorn, in the parish of Lochearron, on the 3rd of August, 1892, and was removed by death to his eternal rest on Monday, the 7th May, 1956. He did not reach the age of sixty-four years when he passed away through an attack of coronary thrombosis. He was in an indifferent state of health from the time of his return from Australia and New Zealand on his second visit paid to our people there as the Deputy of the Church. It is very probable that his military service in the First World War led to an undermining of his bodily health to quite an extent, so that he was never as robust as otherwise he would normally have been.
He received his early education at the local school, and came at an early age to Inverness to learn the tailoring trade. It may here be noted that he was distantly related to the late worthy Malcolm Kennedy, and his aunt, Ann Kennedy, was a highly esteemed follower of the Saviour. Mr. Robertson, Tain, recalls precious conversation which he had with this aunt in the company of the late Mr. MacLeod. She said on one occasion to them, “This is not my house; it is yours as much as mine.” We cannot record much concerning the way in which the Holy Spirit led him from the kingdom of sin and Satan into the kingdom of God’s dear Son. Mr. Angus Stewart, Inverness, a highly respected elder and missionary of our Church, made a remark which influenced him and affected him very much, but we cannot ascertain what exactly it was. He deeply prized the preaching of the late Rev. John R. Mackay, as many another one did, while regretting the course taken by him. He was specially influenced through the labours in Inverness of the late Mr. Murdo Mackay, Strathy Point, who occasionally supplied the congregation in the absence of his brother. It may have been through the labours of Mr. Murdo Mackay that Mr. MacLeod was in free, holy, and sovereign grace, blessed with the saving knowledge of his Saviour. Such was his regard for Mr. Murdo Mackay that he himself said of him, “I felt that I could walk all the way to Strathy to hear him again.” In connection with his spiritual experience at the time, he wrote in a letter dated 17.4.52 as follows: “It was in the year 1915, I came forward when I was 23 years. I cannot remember that I felt what I got often since then—a sense of the Lord’s presence. A good lady, Jessie Russell, said to me after the services were over that first Saturday: ‘Remember,’ she said, ‘that you will not forget to sit at the Lord’s table as often as you get the opportunity.’ I tried to carry out her advice, and I think that I may say that I have not regretted since doing what she said.” By April, 1916, he was in the Army, at Hornsea, England, until January, 1917, and, in later days, wrote of this, “I hope at times that I experienced the Lord’s presence, even in the midst of the world.” We rather regret that more details concerning his experiences were not left on record by him. He was spared in the love and kindness of the Lord to come through the war, and by December, 1919, was received as a student of the Church. He attended Glasgow University for his arts course, and then the divinity classes at Wick until 1926. He was duly licensed, and later on, ordained and inducted as pastor of the joint-congregation of Dornoch and Rogart, on the 5th of October, 1926. I do not refer in detail to his numerous visits as deputy of the Church to Canada, Australia and New Zealand, as particulars of these can be got in the volumes of our Church Magazine. For the sake of needed reference, these details are in vols. 35 and 39, and in our Proceedings of Synod for 1949 and 1956. He was a most acceptable and laborious servant of the Divine Head of the Church as Synod Deputy, and acted as Convener, as need arose, of the Canadian and Colonial Mission Committee.
Mr. MacLeod experienced, in a special measure, two sore trials which befell him in the course of his ministry. One was the prolonged case of discipline which led to the defection of many in his congregation. Throughout this trial, he stood, by divine grace, unflinchingly by the scriptural position of the F.P. Church in its doctrine, worship, government, and discipline, as set forth in its supreme and subordinate standards. There was also, although in another way, the loss of the Evelix Church-building by a severe storm on the last Sabbath of 1951. But Mr. MacLeod set about getting a suitable building erected. A permit was speedily obtained to have a building which would accommodate a congregation of two hundred. The total cost came to about £1900. Mr. MacLeod said in connection with the above, “The money is coming in gradually, and He who has the heart of all people in His hands may try our faith; but He gives more faith.” The new church is a most comfortable building, electrically heated. It was opened in June, 1953. Our Church is deeply indebted to Mr. MacLeod for his zeal and tenacity in having such an excellent building built in place of the old one.
I have before me a few extracts of his letters, and would be pleased to have more like these. The following are given:—24.12.52: “Tonight I was saying something at the prayer-meeting on words in the 85th Psalm—’Wilt Thou not revive us again that Thy people may rejoice in Thee?’ I thought that I felt a little reviving in the first prayer. At times one feels discouraged because of the few people attending, especially the prayer-meetings, but recently I felt as if the Lord was saying to me—’I am with thee.’ If He is with us, who can be against us?” 11.5.53: “I am over thirty years trying to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, and Satan is as busy today in various ways trying to weaken my hands and heart as he was the first day. It is a battle in which grace alone is sufficient for us.” 10.9.53: “On Monday I had the monthly meeting, on Wednesday the weekly meeting, and today I was visiting. I am kept going in that way, but for the fruit of my labours, Sabbath and week-day, little is to be seen. I did not look up the reference, but I think it is Isaiah where it is said that some few berries were to be found—two or three on this branch, and two or three on another (reference is to Isaiah xvii, 6). I thought it gave me a little reviving in my soul to think that great men of God in the past had their mournful periods when little fruit was seen by them. It will be a great day when the Lord will arise to have mercy upon Zion. At times I conclude that if I were oftener at a throne of grace, things would be better with myself and others; but our God has the disposing of all things and not we. For this we should indeed rejoice, and praise Him.”
I have much pleasure in giving at this stage the substance of a letter from Rev. J. P. MacQueen, as far as this is needful for our present purpose. Mr. MacQueen gives information of a Mrs. Morrison who belonged to Applecross, and who lived in Vancouver, passing away quite recently in August of this year, to her eternal rest. She was in her eighty-seventh year. It was during Mr. MacLeod’s first visit to Vancouver that he was instrumental in her conversion.
“She came regularly to our Church, but though outwardly respectable, there was nothing spiritual, till one day, when Mr. MacLeod called on her. She began to speak of the evil times in which we lived. He said to her in his firm, candid, but courteous way: ‘What, Mrs. Morrison, is your own hope for eternity?’ Immediately the arrow of conviction went straight to her heart. She did not get peace until some time afterwards under Mr. MacLeod’s own preaching.” Rev. J. P. MacQueen states that he corresponded with Mrs. Morrison till about a year ago, when, due to senile decay, her memory completely failed, as he was informed by her daughter, Mrs. Dixon. Mr. MacQueen had high esteem of Mrs. Morrison as a deeply exercised christian. He further states that last year, at the Stornoway communion, six members at least, if not eight, when met together discussed their father in Christ, the Rev. Finlay MacLeod. At least four of these was converted abroad—two of them in Canada and one, if not two, of them in New Zealand. The above is almost a quotation from Mr. MacQueen’s letter. It is refreshing to know how Mr. MacLeod’s preaching was so much appreciated, and was such a source of soul-benefit to listeners, and gratitude is due to Mr. MacQueen for so cordially supplying the information given.
We consider it appropriate to include some extracts by way of tribute paid to his memory as a servant of the Saviour. One of these is from Mr. Van Dorp, Gisborne. On receiving news of his death, he wrote: “Oh! he is happy, for ever happy—no doubts, no sins, no unbelief. Oh! how great is this blessing for him—forever happy with Jesus in heaven—always singing the unspeakable goodness and grace of the Lord in forgiving him all his sins that he may be with the dear Saviour. Oh! how great is the goodness of our merciful Mediator! Oh! I hope to meet him again before the throne of the Lamb. These were the last words that I was speaking to him . . .” We may, in addition, quote the following relevant portion of the Synod tribute: “Mr. MacLeod was noted for humility of mind which he possessed to a marked degree, and for prayerfulness, a grace in which he abounded. His counsel was generally weighed well, before he committed himself, which made him a valuable member of our Church Courts. His sympathies went far beyond the limits of his own parish, as seen in his readiness to give his services to our scattered congregations abroad. He visited Canada on three occasions, and in the past few years visited Australia and New Zealand twice, on the latter visit being accompanied by Mrs. MacLeod. Our Church has lost a steadfast friend and the Gospel a devoted minister. ‘The memory of the just is blessed!'” The following part of the tribute from the Northern Presbytery is also worthy of insertion: “Mr. MacLeod was a minister who divided to his people food convenient for them, being acquainted with the deep things of God, and taught from his youth to fear the Lord. He largely overcame the early disadvantages of education and proved himself to be a faithful servant of Christ and valued counsellor in the Church Courts. He was the friend of the sick and aged, to whose needs he was specially attentive, and his visits to their homes were appreciated and evidently enjoyed. We believe that the Great Day will declare the full fruits of his labours, for we are assured that he had many seals to his ministry among our people at home and abroad.”
We can add little more to the above. He was a man who unfeignedly wrestled at the throne of grace for himself and others. He was a humble, loving servant of his Saviour, and a most savoury preacher of the Gospel. We recall some of his discourses when with us in Dingwall on communion occasions before his pilgrimage came to its close—as those on the texts: “He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” and also: “We would see Jesus.” He himself endured to the end as seeing Him who is invisible and is gone to the city of everlasting habitation. His mortal remains were laid to rest in the New Cemetery, Dornoch, near the graves of the late Rev. D. Beaton and of Mrs. Beaton.
May the divine blessing richly rest upon his bereaved family, who were so highly privileged in recent years as to have three noteworthy servants of the Lord live and die in that home. The Lord be the shield and exceeding great reward of the bereaved widow and members of the family.—D. A. MacFarlane.
Searmonan.
LEIS AN URR. TEARLACH C. MAC AN TOISICH, D.D.
(Air a leantuinn bho. t.d 187.)
III. Ciod e dh’fhaodadh a bhi’g oibreachadh ann an íntinn na mnatha so, ‘n uair a thubhairt i, “Tha fhios agam gu’m bheil a Mesias a teichd, ris an abrar Criosd,” cha ghabh mi orm a rádh; na aig an am so an do dh’eirich smuaint ‘n a h-íntinn gur e a’ Mesias E Fèin a bha labhairt rithe. Bitheadh sin mar a dh’fhaodas e, bha i cur feum air Fear-saoraidh—Aon aig an robh gràs neo-chriocnaich, oir bha ise caillte—Aon a dheanadh Eadar-mheadhonair air a son, a dheanadh rèidh ris an Athair i, agus a shaoradh i bho peacaidhean. Bha i cur feum air foillseachadh air d’a h-anam; agus uime sin thubhairt Iosa, ann an ioraslaichd ghràsmhor, agus le saorsa shònraicht’ a thaobh rathad an fhoillseachaidh, “Is mise e, a tha labhairt riut.” Agus gu’n teagamh, ‘n uair a chaidh na briathran gràsmhor a mach as a bhilean, chàidh cumhachd an Spioraid a mach ann an bhi soillseachadh sùilean a tuigse agus ann an a bhi’g ath-nuadhachadh a toil air a leithid de dhòigh, agus le leithid de dh’eifeachd chínntich, agus, ge b’e air bith cho dorch, dh’aithnich i glòir an Fhir-labhairt Dhiadhaidh, chunnaic i ann am Fear-saoraidh, am Fear-teagaig, ris am faodadh i slàinte a h-anama earbsa, agus dh’fhairich i a cridhe a dol a mach da ionnsuidh ann an aoradh agus ann an gràdh, a chùm agus gu’m bu Leis-san i air son siorruidheachd.
Tha a leithid so de am luachmhòr ann am beatha gach peacach a tha air a thearnadh; an t-am ‘n uair a tha e air a bheannachadh le uibhir de dh’eolas air ar Tighearn Iosa Crìosd air fhoillseachadh ‘s an t-soisgeul, ‘n a ghràs mar Slànuighear pheacach, ‘n a fhear-freagarachd d’a chiont, agus d’a dhorchadas, agus d’a thruaillidheachd mar pheacach, ‘n a uile-fhoghainteachd, agus ‘n a shaorsa, ni a tha ga mhisneachadh agus ga cho-eigneachadh gu saorachadh air Crìosd air son slàinte, gu bhi toirt Dha a chridhe, agus gu bhi ga thoirt fèin suas Dha gu bhi ga leantuin anns an t-saoghal a tha làthair. Agus ‘s e so iompachadh. An robh a leithid so a dh’am, a leithid so de nì, ‘n ar eachdraidh a chaidh seachad? Faodaidh nach bi sinn comasach labhairt air latha àraidh na uair, ‘n uair a bha sinn air ar toirt as an t-slochd uamhainn agus as a chlàbar làthaich, ‘n uair, an deigh dhuinn a bhi air ar toirt ional, a bha sinn air ar euideachadh, agus air ar euideachadh air a leithid de dhòigh agus gu’m b’urrainn-mid a ràdh, “Pill, O m’anam, gu d’ shuaimhneas, oir bhuin an Tighearna riut gu fial;” ach, am b’e foillseachadh air Slànuighear ar ‘n aon mhiann agus an aon nì mhàin a bha sinn a sireadh as a dheigh? An d’fhuair sinn Ann-san gu leoir gus a bhi ciuneachadh ar ‘n cagal roimh fheirg, gu leoir gu bhi tionndadh ar gràidh do pheacadh gu fuath agus bròn d’a thaobh, gu leoir gu bhi tarraing ar cridheachan air falbh bho’n t-saoghal agus bho’n a chreutair, gu leoir gu bhi deanamh Chrìosd dhuinn ‘n a fhois agus ‘n a chuibhrionn? An d’fhuair sinn Ann luach mhòrachd nach gabh a bhi air innse?
Faodaidh na ceisdean a chuir sinn agus feadhainn coltaich riutha a bhi air am freagairt nì’s fearr le cuid ‘n uair a theid sinn air adhart gu bhi gabhail beachd air cainnt bean Shamaria mar chainnt an iompachain aig am an iompachaidh, agus mar a tha sinn a toirt fodhar comharraidhean, na de na dearbhaidhean, a th’air an atharrachadh. Cha’n eil e ri bhi air a thuigsinn gu’m bheil sinn a riaghladh gu’m bheil sùil gu’n toir gach fìor iompachan cainnt d’a fhaireachaidhean, d’a dhòchas, agus d’a mhiannaibh, anns an dòigh ‘s an tug ise cainnte d’a na nithean a bh’aice fein. Tha a suidheachadh sònraichte-se ri bhi air a gabhail a stigh; an rathad sùmhach gidheadh uile-eifeachdach, bho’n leth a muigh, anns an robh i ‘s an taobh a stigh air a toirt mu’n cuairt; gu sònraicht’ an obannachd ghloirmhòr leis an d’rinn Crìosd E Fèin aithnichte dhi agus leis an deachaidh E stigh d’a cridhe a buadhachadh agus a toirt buaidh, agus am mothachadh iongantach beannaichte air a bhi ‘n a creutair nuadh agus air a’ Mesiah fhaotainn. Gu cinnteach bha e air mhodh àraidh fìor d’a thaobh, ‘n uair a phill an Tighearn air ais a bruid, gu’n robh i mar iadsan a chunnaic aisling. Anns a chumantas bithidh sinn ag amharc gu’m bi ann an iompachan òg, maille ri sìth ann a bhi creidsinn, comharaidhean fèin-eud, na eagal roimh fhèin-mhealladh ag oibreachadh faicealaich na nas stuama dòchas a thaobh an suidheachadh. Agus gu dearbh, anns a chumantas, ann an staid nithean aig an àm so ann an Eaglais Chrìosd, mar is doimhne an obair ‘s an taobh a stigh, faodaidh gur ann is faicealaich a bhitheas cur an cèill an dòchais air taobh an neach anns am bheil e. ‘N uair a thig fras de ghràs a nuas air coithional na air cuibhrionn de’n Eaglais, tha e air caochladh dòigh. An sin, da-rìreadh, mar air latha na Cuingis, tha obair nas luaithe, nas soilleir, agus nas glòrmhor air a deanamh. Mar a tha mothachadh air a pheacadh nas doimhne, tha’n t-sìth ann an Iosa nas motha; agus a mach a lìonachd aignidhean blàth, beothail, cha’n e mhàin gu’m bheil e nas nàdarra a bhi labhairt air an luachmhorachd a thuair ann an Crìosd, ach tha neach air a cho-eigneachadh gu innse dhoibh-san air am bheil eagal Dhè ciod a bha air a dheanamh air son an anama. Ach, ann a bhi gabhail beachd air cainnt na mnatha mar a bhi cur an cèill gu dìleas na nithean a dh’fhairich i, agus mar a bhi cur an cèill faireachaidhean agus miannaibh a’ nàduir nuaidh, bheachdaichinn air na nithean a leanas d’a thaobh, mar nithean a tha fìor a thaobh na h-uile fìor iompachan.
(1) Bha fèin-fhiosrachadh aice air uile-lèirsinneachd Chriosd
Thubhairt i gu’n d’innis E dhith na h-uile nithean a rinn i riabh. Cha robh so gu litearail fìor; Cha d’thubhairt E mòran rithe; cha robh iad fad a comhradh. Gidheadh, cha robh mi-stuamaichd ‘n a cainnt. Bha a’ chainnt so freagarach agus comasach air a bhi cur an cèill ni nach b’urrainn cainnt chumanta a dheanamh. Anns a choinneachadh ghoirt so, bha a beatha uile air innse dhith. Rinn Iosa aithnichte dhith uile-lèirsinneachd, mar ni bha ruigheachd a dh’ionnsuidh grunn a cridhe agus a dh’ionnsuidh a h-uile smuaintean agus shlighean. Rinn E greim air a coguis le ‘fhocal; agus rinn coguis a h-obair ann a bhi dùsgadh suas na cuimhne, agus bha peacaidean diomhair agus peacaidean a bha air an dì-chuimhneachadh air an toirt ‘n a sealladh, agus bha solus na firinn air a thilgeadh air a beatha agus air a cridhe, agus chunnaic i gu’m bu pheacadh gach ni a rinn i riabh.
‘S ann mar so a tha Crìosd a deanamh fathasd ‘n uair a thig E dh’ionnsuidh a pheacaich le a chumhachd iompachaidh. Tha E nochdadh dha gach ni a rinn e; peacaidean a leanabachd, peacaidean oige, maille ris gach antromachadh a bha comhla riutha, a chion mothachaidh, a ghràdh do’n pheacadh, a neo-thaingcalachd, a cheannairc, a shannt, agus ‘a olcas; gus am bheil a smuaintean àrd air an leagadh sios; gus am bheil e air a lionadh le nàire, le fèin-dhiteadh, le fèin-dhioghaltas, gun ni aig ann fèin, na dhe chuid fèin, gu fasgadh a ghabhail ann, na dòchas a tharraing uatha, agus rachadh e fodha ann an eu-dòchas mar a nochdadh Iosa dha ciod a rinn E agus a dh’fhuing E air son slàinte pheacaich, agus ciod na smuaintean sìth d’a’n taobh a bha ‘n a chridhe bho shiorruidheachd. A nis ann an toiseachadh dòchais ann an dòigh nuadh, tha e toiseachadh bròn ann an dòigh nuadh. Mar so tha Iosa a’g ullachadh a shlighe ann an cridhe a pheacaich, agus mar so tha E teagasg an anam a tha faotainn tròcair a bhi measgachadh bròn diadhaidh le aoibhneas, agus a ràdh maille ri Ephraim, “Gu deimhin an dèigh dhomh bhi air mo philleadh, ghabh mi aithreachas . . .” (Ier. xxxi. 19).
(2) Thubhairt a bhean, “Nach e so Criosd?”
Esan a dh’innis dhomh na h-uile nithean a rinn mi riamh. Thubhairt Iosa gu soilleir, “Is mise e”: bha ‘fhianuis Fèin aice air; ‘s cha robh e coltach gu’n dì-chuimhnicheadh i na briathran, na gu’n dì-chuimhnicheadh i cia mar a dh’fhairich i ‘n uair a chunnaic creidimh, ag amharc tre sgàile a dhaonnachd bheannaicht’ Rìgh na Glòire ‘n a mhaise. Ach b’i e coltach gur e ni a rinn ni bu shoilleir làrach air a h-inntinn, agus a thug maille ris an dearbh-shoilleireachd gu’m b’e so da-rìreadh Crìosd, cumhachd agus èifeachd a bhriathran: mar gu’n abradh i, “Cò ‘neach aig an robh leithid de chumhachd ‘n a bhriathran ann a bhi rannsachadh m’anam ‘s an taobh a stigh; ann a bhi deanamh aithnichte smuaintean agus rùinntean mo chridhe; ann a bhi deanamh aithnichte dhomh m’fhìor chiall, a bheatha thruagh a bha mi beò, an cridhe truailte a bha mi ‘giùlain mu’n cuairt leam; ann a bhi ga’m thabhairt gu bhi gabhail gu cridhe cliù an Dia neo-chriochnach ris am bheil mo ghnothuch, agus sòlaimteachd na siorruidheachd a tha air thoiseach orm; agus ann a bhi ga mo dheanamh comasach, eadhon a doimhneachdan mothachadh air truaighe, air gràinealachd, agus air eu-comasan, amharc ris Fèin le dòchas a bhi air mo ghlanaidh, air mo naomhachadh, agus air mo thearnadh? Cò na briathran ach briathran Crìosd? Uime sin, ann an cumhachd briathran Crìosd bha fianuis aice gu’m b’e a’ Mesiah.
‘S ann mar sin, ann am fèin-fhiosrachadh cumhachd focal Crìosd —’s e sin, focal an lagh ghlòrmhor agus a shoisgeil nas ro ghlòrmhoire —ann a bhi dùsgadh bho chodal trom a pheacaidh, ann a bhi foillseachadh meallaidhean a chridhe agus diomhanasan an t-saoghail, ann a bhi beothachadh gu teicheadh bho’n fheirg a tha ri teachd, ann a bhi briseadh a chridhe chruaidh, ann a bhi toirt sìth agus fois ann am fuil agus ann am fireantachd agus ann an gràs agus ann an cuing Crìosd—’s e am fèin-fhiosrachadh so air freagarachd an t-soisgeil air son uile fheuman a spioraid neo-bhàsmhor agus pheacach, a bheir do’n a Chrìosduidh is ìsle agus is bochda, dearbh-shoilleireachd nach toir foghlum na teagasg dhaoine gu bràth, gu’r ann bho Dhia tha’n soisgeul. Agus, do bhrigh agus gur ann tre fheuchainn, na a chur gu dearbhadh, a tha’m fèin-fhiosrachadh so ri ruigheachd air, uime sin, tha sinn ag ràdh, “Thig agus faic.” Agus mar is e beannachd a Chrìosduidh gu’m bheil e air a dhùnadh suas ris gun a bhi’g iarruidh nì ni’s lugha na’m fèin-fhiosrachadh so’s an taobh a stigh, air èifeachd an fhocail bho latha gu latha, chùm agus gu’m bitheadh feuman an anama air coin-neachadh riutha agus air an lìonadh—mar sin ‘s e aon de na toraidhean sona a tha leantuinn an Fhèin-fhiosrachaidh so an dearbh-bheachd— “Nach e so soisgeul Dhé, ni is e cumhachd Dhé chum mo shlàinte”?
(3) Thubhairt a bhean, “Thigibh faicibh duine a dh’innis dhòmhsa na h-uile nithean a rinn mi riabh.”
Dh’fhàg i a soitheach uisge, agus dh’fhalbh i do’n bhaile, agus thug i cuireadh do na daoine tighinn d’a fhaicinn Iosa. Faodaidh ioghnadh a bhi air cuid gu’n d’fhàg i làthaireachd Chrìosd, gun E dh’iarruidh sin oirre, aig an dearbh àm ’s an robh i mothachail air tarraing nèamhaidh na làthaireachd sin. Agus faodaidh nach faic cuid ni tuilleadh ann ach a bhi cur an Cèill mòr-ioghnadh, agus miann co-fhaireachadh muinntir eile. Ach ’s cinnteach gu’m feum sinn fhaicinn ann ni-èigin fada ni’s luachmhoire na sin—fìor thoradh gràs Chrìosd, an ni a bha gu dlùth a leantuinn mothachadh air luachmhorachd—seòrsa ùr de ghràdh, gràdh do anamaibh aoin eile, cùram air son an slàinte, miann an treòrachadh gu Iosa. Cha bu luaithe a thuair i’n Slànuighear na bha i saothrachadh chùm agus gu’m faigheadh daoine eile E mar an ceudna. Le cridhe làn ghlaodh i mach, “Thigibh, faicibh an Duine iongantach so, a nochd a leithid de thròcair a tha sruthadh thairis, do leithid de pheacach ’s a tha mise ann, agus is urrainn an dearbh thròcair a nochdadh dhuibhse.” Abradh an saoghal an ni thogras e, cha’n eil gràdh fìor, neo-chealgach, ach ann an Eaglais Chrìosd agus mar thoradh air a ghràs. Agus mar is motha bhitheas fèin-fhiosrachadh aig a shluagh air gràs Chrìosd, ’s ann is motha bhitheas an gràdh do anamaibh muinntir eile, agus ’s ann is motha bhitheas an dìcheall air son gu’n ruigeadh slàinte orra. Agus feumaidh mi beachd a ghabhail air, anns a bhuaidh a lean a h-oidhirpean—anns a mhòran eile ann an Sichar a bha air an treòrachadh gu Crìosd—agus a chi sinn ciod e na toraidhean mòra a dh’fhaodas a bhi leantuinn iompachadh soilleir aon pheacach.
(R’a leantuinn.)